Cockcroft History

Learn more about the History of the Cockcroft Program

Amy V. Cockcroft was a visionary leader ahead of her time. During the early 1990s,
healthcare was in a chaotic state, not much different than it is today. Amy knew that
nurses would need to be prepared to take leadership roles within the healthcare team
with ever increasing levels of responsibility. Leadership development would be essential
to prepare nurses to lead now and in the future, in roles, she probably could not
imagine.

She asked a group of nurse leaders within the College of Nursing in the University
of South Carolina to develop such a program. The group of local nurse leaders came
together and envisioned a leadership program that would transcend time. Core leadership
skills and content were defined, and a search began for the right leadership faculty
and consultants to teach, guide, and mentor the fellows. The end result was a year
long program that consists of five intensive sessions. These sessions include workshops,
small group discussions, readings, self-assessments, and a leadership project.

The inaugural class began in 1995 - 1996 with a group of twelve fellows. Since the
inception of the Amy V. Cockcroft program there have been over 180 fellows who have
completed the program. These fellows reside throughout the United States. They continue
to make an impact in healthcare by holding key leadership positions, serving on boards,
holding public office, owning their own entrepreneurial practices, and impacting public
policy. The program is as viable today as it was when it began particularly in light
of the Institute of Medicine's report on the Future of Nursing and the implementation
of the Affordable Health Care Act. The program continues to develop leaders that are
shaping and will continue to shape the healthcare industry in the 21st century and
beyond.